Column: Check the Whisky Menu Before Hitting the Beach

Sun, beach, a pile of books. What more does a person need on holiday, right? Well, almost nothing. Because wherever you go, there's always something whisky-related to discover. If you know where to look.

You don’t need to book a tour around Scotland to stumble upon a few nice bottles. In fact, whisky is no longer exclusively tied to kilts, bagpipes, and strong gusts of wind. Distilling, experimenting, and serving are happening all over the world. You just have to track it down.

I once ended up in Bonn, not exactly known as the capital of single malt whisky, in a surprisingly beautiful whisky shop. At Vom Fass you can bottle your own whisky, and you'll get it in a special Beethoven bottle. Loads of fun, right?

In Singapore, I visited the micro-distillery Brass Lion Distillery, which released the country’s very first single malt whisky. Who would say no on holiday to copper stills, tropical maturation, and staff with as much passion as your average Islay veteran? It’s the kind of discovery you’ll be talking about weeks later, long after the beach memories have faded.

Even in Sarajevo, where you’d expect rakija rather than whisky, I once stumbled upon a whisky bar with an impressive selection. It remains one of the coolest whisky bars I’ve ever visited. And while whisky wasn’t the reason I went there, that bar stuck in my memory. Other things from that trip I’ve already forgotten.

What I’m trying to say is: it pays to keep your whisky radar on, especially in places where you least expect it. A quick search on Google Maps*, a chat with the local barista or hotel receptionist, or simply keeping your eyes open in an unfamiliar supermarket. It’s surprising what you can find if you just pay attention.

Of course, you’re on holiday and don’t want to be 'working.' You don’t need to hunt for rare bottles or obscure distilleries every day. But one evening of bar hopping or one afternoon detouring to a local distillery? It can’t hurt, can it?

These are the moments that stay with you. They make sure that when you get home, you’ll have more than just sunset photos — you’ll also have a good story to tell. In that sense, life is a lot like whisky: there are beautiful stories waiting to be discovered.

And the question is: What’s in the barrel for you?

*The search keywords I always type in: whisky, whisky bar, cocktail bar, distillery.